Kerrey: No Apology Necessary

Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., said on Thursday that Vice President Al Gore does not owe him an apology for a Gore backer calling the maimed Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor winner "a cripple." Kerrey also said he had persuaded former Sen. Bill Bradley, Gore's only foe for the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination, to drop his demand for such an apology.

"Vice President Gore was not responsible for this incident, would never condone it, and does not need to extend me an apology," Kerrey said in a statement, copies of which were distributed to reporters travelling with Gore in Washington state.

Bradley called on Wednesday for Gore to apologize to Kerrey because a Gore supporter called Kerrey "a cripple" outside a rally for the vice president in New Hampshire on Sunday.

Gore backers shouted down Kerrey, who has endorsed Bradley, when he tried to make a case for the former New Jersey senator. The Nebraska Democrat lost part of a leg in Vietnam.

Gore narrowly defeated Bradley on Tuesday in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

Here is the text of Senator Kerrey's statement:

I have spoken today with Bill Bradley to ask him to stop his call for Vice President Gore to apologize to me for an incident that occurred in New Hampshire, during which a young man shouted the words "quitter" and "cripple" at me. Senator Bradley had given me his assurance that he would honor my request.

I have also spoken with Tony Coelho, chairman of Vice President Gore's campaign, who told me that the Vice President has been briefed by his staff, a full briefing about the incident, and regrets that it happened.

To many, including Bill Bradley and Vice President Gore, this word is deeply offensive and hurtful. Both of these men have personal family experiences with disability and are easily provoked to anger when the word is used. Both have excellent records voting and advocating for the expansion of opportunity for disabled Americans. Both understand that this incident could, if respect and understanding are not allowed to control our anger, do damage to the cause of the disabled.

Vice President Gore was not responsible for this incident, would never condone it and does not need to extend me an apology. I harbor no ill will toward him in this matter, quite the contrary. I respect and admire him and Senator Bradley for their work in helping American's disabled.

As to myself, I long ago accepted, with peace and tranquility, that I am crippled. Not only does the word not offend me, it accurately describes my condition. While I do not use this word to describe others because I know it offends, I do use it to describe myself, not because I am trying to make light of a bad situation, but because I find the truth liberating.

So, I was not offended when I was called a cripple. On the other hand, I was offended and provoked to anger that I was called a quitter. That accusation put me in the mood to fight. Fortunatey, I remembered in the nick of time that I am 56 years of age and unlikely to prevail in a physical encounter with a man a third my age.

Likewise, I am grateful to Senator Bradley and Vice President Gore that at least in the Democratic Party, there is no division of the need to honor our disabled with equal respect and opportunity.